Sculpturing block



March 10, 1964 c MEADOR 3,123,919

SCULPTURING BLOCK Filed April 29, 1959 INVENTOR JCfMa z a v I --/2 X fBY ATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,123,919 SQULPTURING BLGEK Jim 6.Meador, 5922 Southern Ave, Shreveport, La. Fiied Apr. 29, 1959, SenNo.'809,685 3 (Iiaims. (Cl. 35-26) This invention relates to aneducational device through the use of which a'child or adult may acquireconsiderable skill in sculp-turing, as well as considerable pleasure orrecreation.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide ablock containing embedded therein a figure or object which can beproduced fromthe block, in fine or exact detail, by carefully cutting orcarving away portions of the'block surrounding the figure or object.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carving or sculpturingblock composed of a plastic material or materials which may be readilycarved away for producing the embedded figure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sculpturing blockwherein the embedded figure is preferably produced of a plastic materialof a contrasting color to the part of the block surrounding said figureso that considerable skill and care is required to produce the figure incorrect detail by carving the block from the figure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sculpturing blockwherein said block is composed of distinctively colored layers orthicknesses surrounding the figure or object for outlining the figure inincreasing detail as the block is carved.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a sculpturing block constructedin accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof looking toward one end ofthe block;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view looking toward the other end of the block;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the block, takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the block taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURES l and 4, and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the figure carved from the blockand with the outline of the block shown in broken lines surrounding thefigure.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the sculpturing or carvingblock in its entirety is designated generally 8 and includes aninnermost part 9 constituting a figure or object. In the illustration ofthe invention, the figure or object 9 is shown as a Scotty dog; however,the figure or object may be of any character of more or less finedetail, depending upon whether the sculpturing block is to be used by achild or adult. The portion of the block surrounding the figure 9 ispreferably formed of a plastic material which may be readily carvedaway, and the figure 9 is likewise preferably formed of a plasticmaterial, which may or may not be the same type of material as that ofthe remainder of the block. The block 8, including the figure 9, may beformed, for example, of plaster of Paris, soap, paraffin or wax andvarious other materials.

The figure 9 is first molded or cast in any conventional manner.Assuming that the remainder of the block is to be formed of wax, thefigure 9 is initially enclosed in a coating it? of the Wax preferably bybeing dipped a number of times in hot wax. The hot wax,

3,123,919 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 from which the coating 1% is formed, ispreferably of a distinguishing color from thecolor of the object 9.After the coating 10 is hardened and set, the figure 9, encased in thecoating .10, has another coating. 11 of wax applied over the coating 10,by additional dipping, which coating 11 is preferably of another colorfrom that of the coating 10. After the coating llhas cooled andhardened, the dipping process is repeated as many times as is necessaryto produce a third surrounding coating 12 of still another color. Afterthe coating 12 has cooled and set, the figure containing the threecoatings is preferably suspended in a container which is then filledwith wax or other plastic material which is allowed to cool and hardento produce the complete block 8 which is thereafter-"removed from thecontainer, not shown. An outer portion 13 of the block 8 is preferablyof a color different from that of the color of the coatings 10', 11 andd2, and said block may be rectangular, square, or of any other shape notsuggestive of the shape of the embedded figure 9.

If desired, a side 14 of the block 8 may have the figure or coatingsoutlined thereon, as seen at 15. The end 16 of the block, disposedadjacent the head of the figure 9, may be outlined as seen at 17 tosimulate the forward ends of the two outer coatings 12 and 111 and toalso suggest the forward end of the figure 9, and the other rear end 18of the block can be outlined, as seen at 19 in FIGURE 3, to suggest theshape of the coatings adjacent the rear end of the block. Said outlines15, 17 and 19 generally indicate the thickness of the outer portion 16of the block to assist the carver. However, it will be understood thatthe surface markings 15, 17 and 19 may be omitted, especially where theblock is to be carved by an adult.

In carving or sculpturing the figure 9, the outer portion 13 of theblock is first carved away until the coating 12 is reached. Thedifference in color between the coating 12 and the block portion I13will enable the user to carve away all of the block portion 13 withoutcutting through the coating 12 and so that there will then remain arough outline of the figure 9. The coating 12 is then carved away withmore care until all of said coating is removed and the coating 11 iscompletely exposed, at which time the figure will appear in more detail.The coating 11 is then carved away with still greater care until it hasbeen completely removed and the inner coating 10 is completely exposed,showing in still more detail the configuration and contours of thefigure 9. The inner coating 10 is then carved away with the utmost careleaving the figure 9 completely exposed. This may be accomplished bycutting and scraping. The sculptu-ring skill will be readily apparent tothe carver or sculptor if he or she is able to completely remove all ofthe coating 10 without marring the surface of the figure 9, so that thefigure 9 will appear in as fine detail, after having been carved fromthe block 8, as it was prior to molding into said block. The coatings12, 11 and 10 are preferably of diminishing thicknesses. The figure 9may be of a different color or the same color as the outer block portion13. However, the coatlugs 16, 11 and 12 are preferably of threedifferent colors and of colors different from either the color of theblock portion 13 or that of the figure 9.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resortedto, Without departing from the function or scope of the invention ashereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sculpturing device as comprising a plastic block and a figuremolded therein, said block being formed of a material capable of beingcarved or cut away for exposing the figure, and said block including aplurality of completely enclosed layers immediately surrounding thefigure, said layers having contours similar to the contour of the figureand being distinctively colored relative to one another, to the figureand to the outer portion of the block in which said layers are embedded,said distinctively colored layers being of diminishing thickness fromthe outermost to the innermost layer and being shaped progressively tomore nearly correspond to the contour of the figure from the outermostto the innermost layer.

2. A sculpturing device comprising a plastic block and a figure moldedtherein, said block being formed of a material capable of being carvedor cut away for exposing the figure, and said block including aplurality of completely enclosed layers immediately surrounding thefigure, said layers having contours similar to the contour of the figureand being distinctively colored relative to one another, to the figureand to the outer portion of the block in Which said layers are embedded,said block having substantially fiat outer sides and outer ends, certainof said sides and ends having markings outlining portions of the figureand layers located adjacent said sides and ends.

3. A sculpturing device comprising a plastic block and a figure moldedtherein, said block being formed of a material capable of being carvedor cut away for exposing the figure, and said block including aplurality of completely enclosed layers immediately surrounding thefigure, said layers having contours similar to the contour of the figureand being distinctively colored relative to one another, to the figureand to the outer portion of the block in which said layers are embedded,said block having substantially fiat exterior sides and ends, and meansinscribed upon certain of said sides and ends forming carving guides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,446,941 Smith Feb. 27, 1923 1,902,627 Elbogen Mar. 21, 1933 3,077,676Riva Feb. 19, 1963

1. A SCULPTURING DEVICE AS COMPRISING A PLASTIC BLOCK AND A FIGURE MOLDED THEREIN, SAID BLOCK BEING FORMED OF A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF BEING CARVED OR CUT AWAY FOR EXPOSING THE FIGURE, AND SAID BLOCK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF COMPLETELY ENCLOSED LAYERS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE FIGURE, SAID LAYERS HAVING CONTOURS SIMILAR TO THE CONTOUR OF THE FIGURE AND BEING DISTINCTIVELY COLORED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, TO THE FIGURE AND TO THE OUTER PORTION OF THE BLOCK IN WHICH SAID LAYERS ARE EMBEDDED, SAID DISTINCTIVELY COLORED LAYERS BEING OF DIMINISHING THICKNESS FROM THE OUTERMOST TO THE INNERMOST LAYER AND BEING SHAPED PROGRESSIVELY TO MORE NEARLY CORRESPOND TO THE CONTOUR OF THE FIGURE FROM THE OUTERMOST TO THE INNERMOST LAYER. 